Verse 39
Jesus quoted Psalms 118:26 (cf. Matthew 21:9). He was referring to His return to the temple in power and great glory when He returns at His second coming, not to some return to the temple before His ascension. The negative is very strong in the Greek text (ou me). When He returns, all will acknowledge Him instead of rejecting Him (cf. Zechariah 12:10). Moreover He will come in judgment (cf. Matthew 24:30-31; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 1:7).
"It is extremely important for one to note that Christ’s rejection of Israel is not an eternal one. The word ’until’ (eos) of verse thirty-nine together with the following statement affirms the fact that Christ will come again to a repentant nation to establish the promised millennial kingdom." [Note: Ibid., pp. 265-66. Cf. Lowery, "Evidence from . . .," p. 180.]
Having said His good-bye to the temple, Jesus left its courtyard where He had spent a busy Wednesday teaching (Matt 21:18-23:46).
"Surprisingly, Jesus’ teaching occasions less conflict in Matthew’s story than one would expect. The reason is that the religious leaders are the recipients of none of the great discourses of Jesus [chs. 5-7; 10; 13; 18; 24-25], and even Jesus’ speech of woes is not delivered to the scribes and Pharisees but to the disciples and the crowds (chap. 23). It is in certain of the debates Jesus has with the religious leaders that his teaching generates conflict." [Note: Kingsbury, Matthew as . . ., p. 63.]
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